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Vehicle drive system with electrical power regeneration

  • US 5,771,478 A
  • Filed: 11/06/1995
  • Issued: 06/23/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A drive system for engaging a drive wheel of a vehicle with an output shaft of an engine, said drive system comprising:

  • a gearbox having at least a first gear element connected to the output shaft of the engine, a second gear element connected to the drive wheel of the vehicle and a third gear element for receiving a braking torque to reduce speed of rotation input from the first gear element and to output the rotation at the reduced speed to the second gear element;

    an engaging element for connection to any of said gear elements, said engaging element being selectively engaged to mechanically connect the output shaft of the engine to the drive wheel;

    an electric rotary device connected to the third gear element;

    an accumulator for supplying current for driving said electric rotary device and for receiving and storing electrical energy obtained by regeneration;

    engine load detecting means for detecting engine load;

    speed detecting means for detecting speed of said first gear element and at least one other of the gear elements of the gearbox; and

    a control unit comprising;

    electric rotary device controlling means for setting a target speed for the first gear element based on the detected engine load and for bringing the speed of the first gear element to the target speed by driving the electric rotary device to generate the braking torque; and

    engaging and disengaging means for comparing the speed of said one other gear element, with a set value for engaging and for causing the engaging element to engage when the speed of said other gear element is above the set value for engaging.

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